Dearest Family,
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EACH ONE OF YOU!!! Annie
and Ron are hosting the "family get-together" this year and I'm looking
forward to being with "some" of my family.
All my"Utah" children will be there except for
John and I believe he is going to be with Laura's Mother, Sister, and others
in her family and I'm sure the Roy Mellors will have a WONDERFUL dinner with
Suzie and they usually invite friends to be with them. Susanna, Steve and
Jackson will be in Florida with Steve's family and I also think Barji, Boyd
and Preston will spend the day with Boyd's family in Eden, Utah. I have
talked to many of my friends this week and most of them say they are going
to have a "different" Thanksgiving because their children are going with
"in-laws" - that's what happens when children grow up and get married and
they want to divide their time!!! I'm sure Ron would like to go to Idaho to
be with his Dad and his new wife and Mimi - maybe they will come to Provo.
We have had such beautiful Summer like weather this past week that it is
difficult to get in the holiday mood but the weather forecasters say that is
going to change.
Claire has been working to put together a quilt
for all of us to "tie" during our Thanksgiving and that will be fun - I
wonder how many of the men will help - Ha!!! The quilt is for Mary Ann and
David for their wedding.
Bob and Claire came over last night and they
brought a disc of the pictures Bob took while he was in Guatemala. I can't
believe how good the pictures are and to think that Bob took them makes me
very happy - you all know how much I love pictures and since Papa didn't
ever take any I didn't think Bob, Roy or John would either. John takes LOTS
of pictures but so far, Claire and Patrice have been the family
photographers in their families. I enjoy the pictures and stories Bob
shares with me when he comes home from his humanitarian trips and I know I
say this often, but it makes me VERY proud for him to be involved in things
like that. My favorite church song is "Because I have Been Given Much I too
Must Give" and I know each member in my family gives as much as you possibly
can and I'm SO proud of your philosophy on life. The looks on the faces of
those Guatemalan people waiting in lines to be seen by the American doctors
tells the whole story. The group included a dentist this time and Bob said
he was VERY busy and even asked Bob and others to help pull teeth - they
don't take care of their teeth so they are rotten and are beyond saving. I
don't believe there is anything more painful than a tooth ache and that
makes me SO sad to think how long they are in pain before they get help.
John has been to see me twice this week - THAT'S
A RECORD - Ha!!! It is SO neat to have him "drop by" and he looks SO good.
Have any of you watched "The Batchelor" on television? I personally think
that is a very silly show but it has captured the television audiences and I
always think of John when I watch it. It looks MUCH TOO GLAMOROUS for real
life. John, Laura and Bren have been taking "scuba diving lessons" to
certify for their Hawaiian trip over the Christmas holidays. Scub diving
scares me to death and John says that it scares Laura too. Jeannie came
over one night when he was here and she brought little Preston and that
little baby is SO good and smiles and smiles. It won't be long before he
will be rolling over and then they won't be able to just put him on a bed
and walk away.
I enjoyed going to the bridal shower last Sunday
night given by David's Mom, Sisters and Sisters-in-law for Mary Ann. WHAT A
LOVELY FAMILY!!! David is one of eight children and I met many of them and
you can tell they are all related - his sisters have gorgeous complexions
and they are SO talented and well educated. David's family home is just
beautiful and it was fun to see that part of Draper - I haven't been in that
area for many years and it has surely developed.
Jeannie and others in their family are busy
addressing wedding announcements - THAT IS SUCH A BIG JOB!!! It will be fun
to go to a neighborhood shower for Mary Ann next week and I'm looking
forward to the bridal luncheon at the Oakridge Country Club this next
Friday. Patrice - I didn't send you an invitation to that because I didn't
want you to feel bad that you couldn't come but we will miss you!!! Jeannie
wants all of us to go their home for dessert and I'm hoping Mary Ann will
consent to put on my wedding dress for a picture like Susanna and Barji
did. A tradition.
Russell - I was SO thrilled to read parts of
your letter that you sent to your folks last week and to learn you are
actually receiving these family letters. I know they must be terribly
boring but both Michael and Ricky said they read "every word" - Ha!!! You
are doing great things in your mission and I hope you at least have a fan -
I know how uncomfortable your heat is. We used to soak towels in water and
cover ourselves in front of a fan and that helped SO much - we slept that
way.
I have had a fun and busy week. My home teacher
called me a few minutes ago and asked what kinds of activities I would be
interested in for the Stake Single Adults to plan - I told him I was much
too busy to need more activities!!! The Young Women in our ward invited me
to their "Evening of Excellence" on Tuesday night and it was SO nice. I had
my D.U.P. meeting on Wednesday and it also was very successful - most of the
women in my "camp" are older than I am and they appreciate having things
planned for them and I am learning patience!!! I went visiting teaching on
Thursday and it takes us three hours to visit three sisters - I personally
think that is ridiculous but the sister who is my companion is even slower
than I am and that's slow!!!
Margaret had invited me to go to Thanksgiving
Point with her yesterday (Saturday) after I got home from the temple but we
didn't decide who should call who so we ended up not going. She had spent
all last week in Star Valley and I thought she was too tired and she thought
I wanted to stay home and watch the BYU-Utah football game - Ha!!! I did
watch the game and I'll have to admit that I was happy when the University
of Utah won - Sorry!!! Their coach is on the verge of being fired because
of a poor record this year and maybe this win will help him keep his job.
The BYU football team hasn't had much success this year and now they won't
even be "Bowl" qualified - the first time in many, many years. They had two
quarterbacks injured in the game so they had to put in Bret Engeman and I
was hoping he could do something magical to win because he deserved it but
it just didn't work out. I couldn't have it both ways could I???
That's all the news - I think!!! I LOVE EACH
ONE OF YOU SO VERY, VERY MUCH. PLEASE BE SO VERY, VERY CAREFUL IN
EVERYTHING YOU DO - and eat LOTS of turkey!!!
Grandma B XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO